Philanthropy and Engagement, from the Division of University Relations

Dear Sewanee Family,

Winter’s chill hasn’t quite left the Mountain, but spring is right around the corner! Here in University Relations, we’re anticipating a number of special events. Life is about to get busy—not that it ever slows down!

At the top of our list is Sewanee’s eighth annual Tiger Tuesday! We hope you’ll mark your calendar for April 9 and plan to show your support. For this year’s day of giving, we’re inviting our community to reflect on Sewanee’s unique combination of mind, heart, and place—as Vice-Chancellor Pearigen described in his inauguration address—and to help in preserving and strengthening our one-of-a-kind undergraduate and seminary experiences.

Not long ago, we welcomed a great group of alumni for our 100 Years of Sewanee Basketball celebration, and soon we’ll host three more reunion events. Sewanee Volunteer Fire Department (SVFD) alumni will gather during the weekend of March 22-24, and former members of the University Choir will reconnect from April 5-7. Additionally, the School of Theology will hold its annual Alumni Retreat from April 1-5. If you’re making the trip for any of these occasions, I hope to see you!

We’re also looking forward to bringing the Sewanee Parents’ Council together for its spring meeting on March 1. I am tremendously grateful to this outstanding group of parents and family members for their philanthropic leadership.

After a short winter break, Sewanee Club events are picking up again. Recently, University alumni, families, and friends met up for fun receptions in Washington, D.C. and Tampa, and in the weeks ahead, Sewanee will be in South Carolina, Little Rock, Memphis, and Pensacola. If you live in one of these regions, please celebrate with us!

I’m inspired by the remarkable donors featured in this issue of Philanthropy and Engagement, and I’m also pleased to share details about two important fundraising initiatives: our 100 Years of Basketball Fund and our goal to secure funding for athletic surface replacement on Hardee-McGee Field/Coughlan Track and Puett Field. If you’re interested in making an immediate difference for Sewanee’s dedicated student-athletes, these are excellent and urgent opportunities.

Thank you for everything you do to elevate Sewanee's mission and champion our amazing students and seminarians!

With gratitude for your enthusiasm and support,

Sewanee Athletics Rallies for $1M+ Fundraising Initiatives

Sewanee Director of Athletics John Shackelford, P'24, has high expectations for the Tigers—and for the University as a whole. "Everything we do on the Mountain should be excellent," he says. With this goal in mind, Shackelford has pinpointed two urgent funding priorities: Sewanee's 100 Years of Basketball Fund and the replacement of surfaces on Hardee-McGee Field/Coughlan Track and Puett Field. Through the fund, Sewanee aims to raise $1,000,000 toward a basketball program endowment, expanded travel opportunities for the Tigers, and new office space for basketball and volleyball coaches. Turf and track replacement will require $2,000,000—$1,300,000 for Hardee-McGee Field/Coughlan Track and $700,000 for Puett Field. Pending a successful fundraising campaign, new turf and track will be installed this summer.

Philanthropy in Action

Sewanee Alumni and Friends Support the University Through Impactful Gifts

Chalankis Brown, C'11

“I'm excited to help get the word out about how special the University is, and to take part in shaping its next chapter."

Dan Rather, C'85

"The Sewanee Volunteer Fire Department was a major part of my community experience and continues to be."

Shelley Martin, T'24

“These years at Sewanee have been some of the best of my life. Some of the hardest and most difficult, but also the most beautiful and enriching."

Freeman Foundation Grant Creates Internship Opportunities in East and Southeast Asia

Where better to see the world than from atop the Mountain? Thanks to a recent grant from the Freeman Foundation, Sewanee undergraduates now have more opportunities for international study and exploration. Funding enables the University to offer up to $9,500 per student to support summer internships in 15 East and Southeast Asian countries. “We are thrilled to be able to provide these trajectory-changing opportunities for our students,” says Marcus Murphy, C’07, associate director of Sewanee’s Office of Global Citizenship. “I was lucky enough to receive funding to travel to Asia during my time as a student at Sewanee, and it has always been a goal of mine to open this door for more students.”

Though Carl Stoneham, C’56, was born in Houston and had deep family roots in Texas, he spent his childhood hopping across the map. “His parents divorced not long after he was born, and he and my mother were shipped all over the country for different relatives to take care of them,” says Stoneham’s nephew, Richard Mahoney. “At times, it was just the two of them against the world.” Despite these challenges, Stoneham thrived at Sewanee—the Mountain became his home. He excelled as a philosophy major, earning membership in the Order of the Gown. He also sang in the University Choir and participated in Greek life. “He always said his years at Sewanee were some of the best of his life,” Mahoney says. After earning a J.D. degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1969, Stoneham quickly established himself as a successful corporate lawyer. At his death in February 2023, he left the University a significant bequest, which will benefit students in all fields of study. Director of Gift and Estate Planning Allison Cardwell says, “Carl championed Sewanee throughout his life, and we are so grateful he chose to honor his time on the Mountain by helping future generations have the same enduring experiences.”

Carl Stoneham, C'56

Do you have a passion for the Sewanee experience? The Division of University Relations is seeking a skilled advancement officer to elevate the University's mission by cultivating and stewarding leadership-level donors. Learn more and apply here!